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Restrictions on time spent by junior doctors in cardiothoracic surgery have lead to surgical duties to be preformed by Surgical care Practitioners SCPs. Department of Health ( DOH) UK has a fixed training programme, yet SCP roles vary between hospitals. Our main objective was to assess the role of the SCP nationally and to standardize our professional practise.

Methods

All SCPs in the UK were enrolled into this study by telephone interview and questioners.

35 cardiothoracic centres were enrolled and remaining centres were excluded (paediatric, private or centres without SCPs). Overall, 202 of the 230 questionnaires sent were returned for analysis.

Results

170 SCPs and 33 trainees were enrolled of which 71% had RCS exam and PGDip and 37% had masters .

The centres with the SCPs working in each speciality is : cardiac ( 100 %), Thoracic ( 80 % ), clinic duties ( 49 %) , ward ( 31 % ) and transplant (26%). Only 35 % of the SCPs had a time allocation for professional development, educational sessions or other further surgical skills training.